FaultScore

1998 KIA Sephia airbag problems

31 of the 994 complaints about the 1998 KIA Sephia are about the airbag system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 40,000 miles.

F

31

Complaints

20

Crashes

0

Fires

8

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 21 67.7%
AIR Bags 5 16.1%
Sensor/Control Module 3 9.7%
Side/Window 2 6.5%

Airbags across every KIA Sephia year

1996 11 6.6%
1997 32 19.3%
1998 31 18.7%
1999 39 23.5%
2000 32 19.3%
2001 21 12.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 30,090 miles Drexel Hill, PA 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE AIRBAG IN MY DAUGHTERS KIA SEPHIA 1998 PASSENGER SIDE ONLY DEPLOYED WHILE SHE WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND NO REASON FOR THE AIRBAG TO GO OFF. TOOK TO DEALSHIP FOR REVIEW AND WAS TOLD THAT THE EXPERT LOOKED AT THE CAR AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND NO IDEA WHY IT HAPPEN. THEN CONTINUED TO SAY THAT SOMEONE COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG TO THE CAR AND WE WOULD NEVER NO, BUT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO SPEND ANY MORE TIME OR MONEY TO FIND OUT WHAT REALLY MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS. MY DAUGHTER, THE DRIVER, WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED AND NOW IS AFFRAID WHILE DRIVING OR RIDING IN A CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10202846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cedar City, UT Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 KIA SEPHIA. A RELATIVE WAS DRIVING THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE AND HE SAW HIS BROTHER DRIVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. HE SWERVED TO PLAY A GAME WITH HIS BROTHER, BUT INSTEAD HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVERS AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, HOWEVER THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS. UPDATED 04/30/08. LJ THE CONSUMERS ALSO OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA WHICH WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. UPDATED

NHTSA complaint #10197282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,333 miles Soledad, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE DUAL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED BRUISING FROM THE SEAT BELT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10096855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles ELK Grove Village, IL Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER MOTORIST AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY*AK THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10034101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Belleville, IL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THEY WAS HIT IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #10001672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Scituate, MA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

I WAS IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 7TH, AT 10:30 AM WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE MASS PIKE RT. 90 FRAMINGHAM, MASS. I THOUGHT MY KIA SEHPIA WAS IN ACCELENT CONDITION, BUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE, THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN STARTED SHAKING AND I COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE. I TRIED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE LANE BUT COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING. THE CAR SCREECHED AND WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. TO MY IMMEDIATE RIGHT WAS A LARGE RYDER RENTAL TRUCK, I BRACED MYSELF AND HIT THE LEFT FRONT END OF THE TRUCK. THE REST IS A BLUR, I SPUN AROUND AND THE REAR OF MY CAR HIT THE GUARD RAIL AND I FORTUNATELY STOPPED IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE. IT HAPPENED SO FAST, BUT WHAT IS MOST UPSETTING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS A STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM OR A TIRE PROBLEM. ALL I KNOW IS, I WAS DRIVING SAFETLY AND THEN MY CAR WHEN OUT OFF CONTROL. THE RIGHT FRONT OF MY VECHICLE WAS SEVERLY DAMAGED, AND MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #766723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Danville, VA

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD FOR ABOUT A YEAR OFF AND ON. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, WANTED TO CHARGE CONSUMER FOR PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #8012842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Edingurg, TX

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DASHBOARD IS LIFTING UP AND AFFECTING FRONTAL AIR BAG ON PASSENGERS SIDE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #897889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elmwood Park, IL Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING IN THE SNOW MADE A TURN THAT LEFT VEHICLE LOOKING TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND HAD HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES TO CONSUMER AND CHILD IN VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #878732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elmwood Park, IL Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION ABOUT 20 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN HEAD- ON INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #878733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Northridge, CA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP WHEN THE AIRBAG EXPERIENCED FALSE DEPLOYMENT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #554390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yukon, OK

AIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING DASH PANEL ILLUMINATED; ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WENT DEAD. A MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER AIR BAG MELTED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #873172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Colfax, LA Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

BRAKES,LIGHTS,SEATS,BATTERY,AIRBAGS,ODOMETER,LEAKS,AIRCONDITION,LEFTDOORHANDLE (TIRESIZE: 14`)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 14` )

NHTSA complaint #732876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pennsboro, WV Crash

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT INTO CONSUMER'S LANE, AND VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BROADSIDE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF. ALSO AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ALWAYS ON.

NHTSA complaint #863952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE RIGHT SIDE AIR BAG FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #551951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pennsboro, WV Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING ON OLD ROUTE 50 ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT ACROSS IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP, AND HIT VEHICLE BROADSIDE. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. SINCE THE ACCIDENT, AIRBAGS HAVE BEEN ON ALL THE TIME. ALSO, HAD BRAKES REPLACED 5 OR 6 TIMES. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. ALSO, DONE AN ALIGNMENT.

NHTSA complaint #862030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Balitmore, MD Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING ON MAIN STREET, TRAVELING 15MPH, TRAFFIC WAS SLOW, AND VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED SUDDENLY, CAUSING CONSUMER TO REAREND VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. HASN'T CONTACTED DEALER OR MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA complaint #860745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Griffin, GA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING DURING DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS AT 40MPH WHEN HIS VEHICLE REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND FRONTAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. CONSUMER JUST RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK FROM DEALER, AND WANTS A SECOND OPINON.

NHTSA complaint #857499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Citra, FL Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

NO DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR DURING ACCIDENT. NLM

NHTSA complaint #550975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Griffin, GA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S/ OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK.ET

NHTSA complaint #856616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pensboro, WV Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM, CAUSE UNKNOWN, ALSO, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA complaint #855923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salinas, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE STOPPED TO RUBBERNECK AT AN ACCIDENT. MY DAUGHTER REAR-ENDED THE CAR AT 50-55 MPH AND HER 98 KIA SEPHIA AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE HAS CHIROPRACTIC INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #718133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nashvilee, TN

AIR BAGS

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT/AIR BAG LIGHTS ARE ON. CAR WILL NOT START, ALSO, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CONSUMER ALMOST HAD A COLLISION.

NHTSA complaint #854026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gulfport, MS

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #548996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gulfport, MS

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

POSSIBLE AIR BAG FAILURE CAUSED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

NHTSA complaint #549000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gulfport, MS

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

POSSIBLE AIR BAG FAILURE IS CAUSING AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

NHTSA complaint #549021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Valdosta, GA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #853246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Virginia Beach, VA

AIR BAGS

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE UP VEHICLE DOESN'T START UP PROPERLY. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY GO HALF WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND VEHICLE JERKS. IN ADDITION, COMPUTER CHIP/ GEAR SHIFT MALFUNCTIONED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE SHOP OVER TEN TIMES. AIR BAG LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #850755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pensboro, WV Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 30MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #848864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mohegan Lake, NY Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MHP AND TRYING TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM HITTING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT SOME TREES, BRUSHES AND A BIG BOULDER. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #845578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 KIA Sephia problems

← Full 1998 KIA Sephia report